Venue : Adhiparasakthi Horticultural College Campus, Kalavai, Ranipet District
Date : 04th November 2026
Participants : College professors, students and officials from line departments
1. AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Programme Overview
ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Thiruvannamalai, organised a national-level awareness campaign on the cultivation and uses of Ashwagandha for students of Kalavai Adhiparasakthi Horticultural College on 04th November 2026. The programme was conducted by KVK Thiruvannamalai, functioning under the Tamil Nadu Board of Rural Development (TNBRD), with financial support from the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, New Delhi.
The campaign aimed to create awareness among the students about the importance of medicinal plants and the scientific production technologies of Ashwagandha.
Inaugural Session
Mr S. Ramesh, President, TNBRD, urged farmers to take up the commercial cultivation of medicinal plants to diversify farm activities and improve their economic livelihoods. Mr. V. Suresh, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK Thiruvannamalai, welcomed the participants and emphasized the need to integrate medicinal crops with traditional crops to enhance crop diversity and farm income. Dr. G. Umapathi, Principal, Kalavai Adhiparasakthi Horticultural College and Mr. P. Manikandan, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Arcot, Ranipet District, highlighted the relevance of the campaign and the medicinal importance of Ashwagandha.
Technical Sessions
Mr. T. I. Rameshbabu, SMS (Horticulture) and Principal Investigator, KVK Krishnagiri, delivered a detailed technical session on Ashwagandha cultivation. The session covered climatic and soil requirements, selection of quality planting material, planting methods, fertiliser and irrigation management, weed control, pest and disease management, harvesting and post-harvest technologies.
Mr. P. Narayanan, Crop Protection, SMS (Plant Protection) and Mr. R. Vijayakumar, SMS (Horticulture), explained integrated pest and disease management, biological control methods, crop protection technologies, good horticultural practices, quality production and marketing opportunities. Their presentations helped students understand the importance of adopting scientific and sustainable practices for producing quality medicinal crops.
2. DEMONSTRATION
Practical Demonstration and Field Visit
A practical demonstration and field visit related to Ashwagandha cultivation were arranged for the students. During the visit, KVK experts explained the field-level cultivation practices and crop management operations, including preparation of the field and application of organic manure. The demonstration enabled students to connect the technical information shared during the classroom sessions with practical field operations and understand the requirements for successful cultivation.
Participation and Staff Involvement
A total of 100 students participated in the awareness campaign, along with college professors and officials from line departments. The programme was coordinated by the KVK team comprising the Senior Scientist and Head (SSH), Subject Matter Specialist (Plant Protection) and Subject Matter Specialist (Horticulture). The active interaction between resource persons and students provided an opportunity to clarify technical queries and strengthen awareness of medicinal plant cultivation.
Outcome
The campaign created awareness among the student community about the medicinal and commercial importance of Ashwagandha and the scientific practices required for its cultivation. The technical sessions and field demonstration provided useful knowledge on crop establishment, nutrient and water management, plant protection, harvesting and post-harvest handling. The programme encouraged students to promote medicinal plants as a viable component of diversified and sustainable horticultural production systems.
Organised by: ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu Board of Rural Development, with financial support from the National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.
